We are becoming extremely concerned about the validity of the information on your web site. In the past I have personally referred to the site often and have called and talked with Chuck about individuals because we support our troops in every way. Recently we came across information on your site about Jim Wagner and we were very disappointed. For this reason we are sending you a link to an article that references the information on your web site. The information in this article has been verified and if you wish to continue to post the misleading information on your web site then we request that you post this article along with that information. If you are unwilling to post this article please send a detailed email stating the reasons it is not being posted, your documented sources for your information about Jim Wagner and all other verifiable data you are using for your information about Jim Wagner so we can decide how we want to handle this situation legally.

A link to the article we have referenced in this email can be found below:

http://www.worldwidedojo.com/reality-based/is-jim-wagner-a-liar

Thank you very much.

Yours in the Arts,

Dana L. Stamos

First off, she really doesn't know what Wagner said in the past, just what he tells her now. ...... She doesn't realize that he said he was a SGT back when he wasn't one.

.......Here is my interview on post 101 concerning Wagner's swat career.  If he produced two swat team members who could attest he was more then a logistics officer he would have defused this issue.  And no, I didn't go through their public affairs office, and Hartman still talked to me.  I would state that we had this conversation under oath if required to do so.

http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72918&page=11

......My own comments on this are the following. The burden of proving that he was a Costa Mesa SWAT officer engaging in sniping duties or tactical duties (entries, assualt etc) has now shifted to Jim Wagner. I would like Mr. Wagner to produce at least two named witnesses who were former Costa Mesa Regular SWAT Officers who will be willing to swear under oath that Jim was on the SWAT team as a Sniper/Assaulter/or in such tactical capacity, and that he trained this team in tactical matters. These witnesses should be able to prove they were a part of this SWAT team.

Ball's in your Court Mr. Wagner. .....

Dear Chuck & Mary, et al;

          I do not have Mr. Wagner’s email address, but assume someone will forward this to him. I just read Mr. Jim Wagner’s lengthy refutation referenced herein, and I want to state to begin with: I have no dog in this fight . . . . . . EXCEPT I have been a serious student of the martial arts for over 44 and a half years and have a responsibility to give back where I can . . . . . AND I have two sons who are Master Instructors in the martial arts and are decorated US Army Special Forces NCOs risking their lives serving right now . . . . . . AND I am a disabled US Army Special Forces Vietnam combat veteran myself. We are one of only 3 families ever to have the father and two sons qualify and earn the prestigious Green Beret and Special Forces tab. The other two dads are friends of mine, Bob Eldridge and Eldon Bargewell.

          Other dogs I have in the fight: I have worked with the highly-respected POWNetwork.org for years as a resident expert on exposing phony US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) wannabes. I am also a friend of Robert Young, longtime editor of BLACK BELT, and there have been several feature photo stories about me in the magazine, and the same holds true about my friendship with LTC Robert K. Brown, editor/publisher of SOLDIER OF FORTUNE, which has also done several feature stories about me in SOF.  

          My bona fides: martial arts and military: I hold Grandmaster ranking in Song Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do, Freestyle Karate, am Head of Style of Shita Jujitsu (and Shita Judo) meaning “the fulfilling gentle art,” (combination of Kodokan Jujitsu, USA Special Forces Combat Jujitsu, and Professor Wally Jay’s Small-Circle Jujitsu), and I am also a certified Black Sash Instructor in Muay Thai (Thaiboxing). My wife and I are the ONLY couple in history to both be inducted into the non-profit International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame. My only instructor for decades who I always recognize is Grandmaster Bob Chaney of Temecula, CA.

          In the article, Mr. Wagner claims to have created “reality-based fighting.” I find this pretty amusing. Another important tenet to my credentials is that I not only served as an officer in 4 Special Forces Groups, including a 1968-1969 tour on an SF A-Team in a border camp (ODA-242, Dak Pek) as well as in the Top Secret Phoenix Program; but as a civilian, from 1974-1975 I taught a combination of Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, and Kickboxing to members of Special Forces, the 82^nd Airborne, and 18^th Airborne Corps at the Fort Bragg (NC) Boxing Club two days per week. I also owned and operated full-time a martial arts school in nearby Fayetteville. Along with a few other Specop vet volunteers such as the late-Mike Echanis, I helped then-Commanding General Hank Emerson set up the Army’s “Fit-To-Fight Program” at Fort Bragg. At that time, Mike Echanis, a competitor of mine, and I both were teaching grappling and striking techniques in reality-based systems at Fort Bragg. Grandmaster Chaney visited me several times and put on clinics and laughed then at how many traditional instructors teased me because I always lectured that every serious martial artist should be proficient in a grappling and striking style both. Now, many of them have purchased Gracie jujitsu DVDs and are suddenly self-proclaimed grappling experts themselves. I have trained a number of world, national, and state champions. I own and operate two successful MA schools in Colorado but am an author by profession.

          I do not want to give military details or full names on my sons for Opsec reasons, but one had 7 KO’s in less than forty seconds as a professional Muay Thai kickboxer and lived in Thailand for two years fighting in every major arena. On pay-per-view, he was called “The Avenger” and some will recall him from that. Chuck Norris publicly said that son was ”pound for pound the toughest fighter in the world.” Both were pro Thaiboxers and both lived and fought in Thailand as well as Las Vegas, LA, New Mexico, etc. trained and managed by my instructor. They have multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and one teaches combatives for the USASF right now. Both have or have had tours on HALO teams and are trained as snipers, too. They were also 12-time Colorado State champs in sparring and one was a national champion in sparring.

          I am a Decader Life Member of the Special Forces Ass’n and former President of the Rocky Mountain chapter,  a member of the Special Operations Ass’n, Life member of DAV, VFW, and American Legion. In MA, I’ve been a primary guest referee at the Diamond Natl’s, Battle of Atlanta, Compete Nat’ls, Bluegrass Nat’ls, Mile High Classic, Desert Classic, ISKA National Championship in Las Vegas, John Chung’s Sidekick World Championships, and I was the sponsor, and tournament director of the popular Halloween Classic in Colorado.

          Ever since September 11, 2001 teaching anything about combatives re; homeland security and there is not an instructor in the martial arts field who has survived who is not a self-promoter. Longtime friend Jhoon Rhee taught himself Tae Kwon Do for example. Look what Bruce lee accomplished in his short life with great self-promotion and great screen presence. Chuck Norris had friends such as mutual longtime friend Bob Wall who helped promote him to greater heights, but most in the MA have had to self-promote. Listing my credentials has been too long and boring enough, so I will stop there and not list more on the law enforcement side.

          Regardless of LE credentials, I have never been a paid cop and I am not POST-certified. Here are the areas where I might have a problem with Mr. Wagner: He stated he only achieved the rank of Green Belt in traditional martial arts. I only allow black belts with at least 4 years of training to even function as Assistant Instructors in my schools. That, however can also be explained away with my own example of Jhoon Rhee teaching himself TKD. If he is teaching cops and security officers, not kids but grown men and women with brains, and they like what he has to offer; that is fine, but here is my real problem: Mr. Wagner has been featured in BLACK BELT issues that I have been featured in, and he has presented himself in appearance and inference as SGT Jim Wagner. He has dressed in a military uniform doing so and the impression is left that he was a Specops combat vet and an NCO. I have two sons who are REAL NCOs, higher rank than SGT. They earned their stripes with sweat and blood and not in a state militia or standby reserve organization. I know two retired SF LTCs who wore general’s stars and even had a star flag at ceremonies because they got those ranks through state militias. They had full bird colonels “Yes Sirring” their phony asses and they got called out on it. It is against the law to pose as a rank higher than your real rank in the military, even if is from some state paramilitary organization like a militia. It is also against the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 to claim to be, even verbally, any kind of combat or Specops type soldier, NCO, or officer, or try to pose as a combat veteran. Mr. Wagner did this for the sake of self-promotion and should man-up and clear it up for those who enjoyed his articles and to show true loyalty to friends such as Robert Young whose rep was put on the line. His records as stated show he was a radio operator for an engineer unit and never even made it to corporal let alone sergeant. He was not a minesweeper as mentioned. He rode a radio microphone. Besides, ANY vehicle can be a minesweeper . . . . . once. J

Too many actually earned real stripes with blood and sweat dripping into the soil of foreign lands for anybody to try to steal such valor, including my friend Chuck Shantag who is a 100% disabled USMC decorated Vietnam vet. The one remark about the POW Network almost hit on a put down stating it was just run by Chuck and Mary, his wife. They each do the work of twenty and are highly-respected by many combat veterans, including friends of mine who are Medal of Honor recipients, and there are plenty of volunteers like me who work with them in their very pure quest to protect the valor of our fallen comrades who can no longer defend their own legacy. They are not on trial, but they have been sued, slandered, threatened, and are still tireless in their thankless exhausting but honorable mission. There are thousands of combat vets like me who will stand in the way to protect them from any attacks or character assassination.

I am successful in my profession and do not need to teach the MA. I have over 2,500,000 copies of my 25 books in print. I teach it out of love and to help keep my sanity. Fort Carson is only a half hour away and I probably could have taught the 10th Special Forces Group CQC and made high six or seven figures per year, but I do not choose to. Mr. Wagner is not a competitor. What he does is no skin off my teeth. If you, Mr. Wagner are truly a master and are truly a cop at heart anyway, then based on what I have seen and read, I suggest you went overboard with your enthusiasm about self-promotion. If you are about what we teach, then I respectfully suggest you should protect the loyalty you have been afforded by our friend Bob Young and others, and now cowboy the f#*k up and clear up your credentials to something more straight-forward and honest as far as military rank. Taking two week paramilitary courses here and there and E2 or E3 rank in the army does not make you Rambo, and you should not present yourself as such as you disrespect those of us who are (Not Rambo, but Specops vets. Rambo is an ass-clown). Especially those of us I speak for who can no longer speak for themselves or their families. They deserve more respect . . . . . and will be given it.  

          If anybody has questions my number is ........................ SFA #M-4887-DL & SOA #1920-GA. I am fully-vetted and can be checked out with any of the organizations, persons, or tournaments mentioned herein.

Christmas Blessings,

Hi Don,

I do not know how you got involved in this conversation. You sound like a wonderful man, an awesome martial artists and a good friend to our servicemen, but what has this to do with truth.

This is a perfect example of the issues in this situation. Anyone can twist what people say and make it an untruth, which is what you did in your statement when you quoted Jim as saying, “In the article, Mr. Wagner claims to have created ‘reality-based fighting.’”

Jim Wagner never says that he created reality based fighting, it says that he was given credit for having started the “reality-based” self-defense movement: the mixture of the martial arts, military tactics, police tactics, and corrections tactics and using the term “reality-based” in conjunction with other terms such as martial arts or self defense.

You said, “He (Jim Wagner) stated he only achieved the rank of Green Belt in traditional martial arts.”

Are you saying that belt ranking is the only proof of ability? Obviously we will agree to disagree on this. There is no one set standard for belt ranking even between martial arts schools in the same system, and belt ranking may not be indicative of the amount of training a person has “under his belt”. Jim has trained in many arts and has never worried about a belt color as belts “just hold up your pants”. Jim Wagner spends more time continuing his training and in teaching, (which is continuous training) with military and police around the world every year than most of us do in a lifetime. I would not call his military and police students children. They may not appreciate this.

You then state, “ . . . but here is my real problem: Mr. Wagner has been featured in BLACK BELT issues that I have been featured in, and he has presented himself in appearance and inference as SGT Jim Wagner.”

Jim appeared on the front cover of Black Belt magazine (February 2008 issue) and the front cover of Blitz magazine (Australia) in his official Army Combat Uniform as authorized by the California Department of Military. As a Combatives instructor for the California State Military Reserve assigned to a Military Police unit he was given permission by Brigadier General Hagan to appear in Black Belt magazine, and Black Belt magazine provided the photographs to Blitz magazine. His chain-of-command saw it as an important recruiting tool, and ultimately it succeeded in gaining new recruits in the State of California. I think Brigadier General Hagan knew what he was doing in this situation.

Regarding Chuck and Mary, they have a web site, and I do the same, so I understand how difficult the job is, but Jim is out training others to keep safe which is just as important. It appears that you give credit to those who have served in wars, but not to those who have trained them to serve in those wars.

After 9/11 Jim Wagner stepped up to the plate and became a United States Federal Air Marshall and as a street cop for 8 years, Jim did not shy away from danger. Any street patrol police officer, whether from a small town in Kansas or in a  large city like Los Angeles, has to face personal danger. This may not be warfare, but these are real battles.

The war on terrorism is global  and Jim continues to train regular, national guard, and state military units in defense of our country. It appears that you do not respect all of those in the military.

When it comes down to it, this letter deals with the following about Jim Wagner from POW Network:

1)      Jim Wagner is shown on the cover of multiple magazines in what appears to be a U.S. Army Uniform including rank.

Jim appeared on the front cover of Black Belt magazine (February 2008 issue) and the front cover of Blitz magazine (Australia) in his official Army Combat Uniform as authorized by the California Department of Military. In the California Military Reserve, soldiers work side by side with the Army National Guard. This is a disservice to our state military which, if you know your history, was formed before the United States Army.

2)       Jim Wagner  is using the Marine Sniper School at Pendleton as a reference but was never a Marine. Has a non-governmental Marine Sniper Certificate

The event and the certificate that is in questions by POW Network can be easily verified through 1^st Marine Division Schools Camp Pendleton. Jim never claimed to be a Marine and there is no documentation that he claimed to be a Marine and no witnesses from any of his courses that stated that he claimed to be a Marine, so where did this accusation come from?

3)       Jim Wagner constantly refers to himself as Sergeant in reference to his military background while in a military uniform when he has produced no DD 214 to verify rank or service.

Jim is a Staff Sergeant through the State of California Department of Military and was an E-5 at the time of POW Networks posting which has already been proved.

Although you seem to be emotional involved in this, you are not addressing the real issues. You can have your personal opinions about Jim Wager, but by supporting the false accusations on POW Network you are permitting your own feelings to justify these falsehoods. The bottom line is, are the statements on POW Network true or false.

They are false.

Dana L. Stamos

Cc:

http://www.purpleheart.org/

http://www.ranger.org/

http://www.dav.org/

http://www.river-rats.org/index.php

http://www.specialforcesassociation.org/

http://www.thefish959.com/

Lady,

Marry the guy if you are going to defend every sentence you are told. You obviously are not looking for truth and are not unbiased at all. You do not have the right and have not earned the right to declare I do not respect all our military. I have two sons risking their lives now for your right to act stupid, and I do not know you but guarantee you I have done more for our military, all of it, than you ever will. I do not twist the truth. The fact is, it is very obvious this guy is a poser, but I was being polite.

Arnold Schwarzennegger is an actor, bodybuilder, opportunist, and governor, but he has never served in the US military. I do not care what kind of uniform he told your pal he could wear. He and a Left Coast governor-appointed general CANNOT authorize your poser pal to wear a US Army uniform and sergeant stripes and try to come off as "the sergeant"¯ or "SGT Jim Wagner,"¯ which is how he has allowed himself to be recognized. He was a frigging slick-sleeve private who spoke on a radio and wrote down messages for people who actually got their uniforms dirty. He was not some super-stud Specops warrior like he has tried to come across as. He is a poser. It is fraud and a violation of the SVA Law of 2005. Each count is punishable by up to one year in jail and up to a $100,000 fine. He is stealing the valor of others by doing so. Do you get that at all?

The military is not some convenience we thank on Memorial Day and July 4^th. Those who serve have written a black check payable with their very lives so you can have the freedom to make dumb comments and insult combat veterans like me when you want.

That is nice you have a website. I have a couple of them, and people actually visit mine and the POWNetwork's. You started out with just a flat line with me, as I did not know you, but now have lost all credibility with me with your insults. The guy has feathered his little nest by posing as someone he did not earn the right to do. That is when he stepped on my toes. I made it back alive, barely, but have plenty of friends who did not. I have to speak for them and their families as they cannot. They are dead and each left a legacy of honor and valor, which Jim Wagner is tarnishing with his bullshit posing. Do you get that? I also have friends such as one who spent 7 and a half years in Vietnam in MAC-V/SOG and in specops missions in 55 countries, who compete with your friend to train people, except my friend has real credentials. He is not a fake like yours is. He is blind-copied, too.

I do not appreciate someone doing that like Wagner and blowing smoke up my ass and then have someone try to convince me I am sitting in a chimney. By the way, the DEA have never even heard of him.

There is lying and there is truth. There is honor and dishonor. He crossed the line and knows it. Period. Go put your cheerleader's outfit away. It is not going to work around here.

This is not some martial artist claiming he trained with Bruce Lee, since Bruce is not around to deny  it or claiming he beat up Bill Wallace or Joe Lewis in a tournament years ago. It is way more serious, and he and you are now pissing off the wrong people.

De Oppresso Liber,

Hi Don,

I apologize if I was disrespectful. It was not my intention.

Dana

Thank you for your apology. I always respect that. I do not know your martial arts credentials Dana, but I make male students do ten knuckles pushups for walking through doors in front of women. I take belts away from kids who diss their mom or dads, and make students say "Yes, Sir"¯ or "Yes, Ma'am"¯ to black belts, etc. etc. These are some of the reasons I am in MA. My students earn their belts and compliments. I am about honor and discipline, respect, loyalty, and many things I learned as a US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) officer. I am also a real cowboy with a real horse and real ranch and live by my own Code of the West, which is akin to what I just described. I also do have an extensive background working with and training law enforcement and have tremendous respect for those in the profession.

However, sometimes we get taken in and back the wrong horse in the race. If I were you, regardless of emotional attachments or friendships already established, I would simply investigate thoroughly with a totally open mind, before jeopardizing your good name and reputation and credibility of your organization. Anybody who has nothing to hide does not mind being investigated. A man's wife is the worst source in the world to go to for a reference. If he is a liar, she will believe what he says and defend him to the hilt if she is simply loyal. I take that back, I bet my ex-wife would be my worst reference. J My real and only wife  now however would rip someone's head off who questioned my integrity, but what if I was a liar and lied to my wife from the get-go? Consider all this.

Yours in the martial arts,

Did he have the gall to send that incriminating photo of him in an unauthorized Army uniform and E6 stripes from the California militia? I cannot believe he had the balls to wear it for a White House tour!